Yaktrax Footprint

I also find that the Yaktrax system works better on rough ice...like where the snow melts off the roof and freezes on your porch or sidewalk...than traditional ice cleats because there's always some portion of the traction coil in contact with the ice. And the coil has some flex to it so it actually conforms to the "bump".

With traditional ice cleats you can step on a "bump" on the icy surface where there's no cleat and then your shoe has to slide...or slip...until a spike makes contact with the ice and hopefully regains traction. Just like with a car, once you lose traction it's a hard to get it back. And that "slip" could be enough for you to lose your balance and fall. With Yaktrax you're a lot less likely to lose traction in the first place.